How to Get More Effort Out of Unmotivated Basketball Players

Coaching Fundamentals Player Development Oct 5, 2025 10:40:00 PM Coach Wolfe 8 min read

Summary: When a talented player seems unmotivated, they're usually missing one of three psychological needs: feeling competent, feeling in control of their development, or feeling connected to the team—and addressing the right one changes everything.

I can think of several players over the years who could have been at the top of our league if they were just motivated and confident enough. I tried my best. I succeeded with some. But with others, I watched their potential fade season after season, and I still feel like I failed them.

That weight sits heavy with a lot of us coaches. We see a talented kid who just won't push themselves, who seems disinterested during drills, who shows flashes of brilliance but never sustains the effort. We call them "unmotivated" and wonder what we could have done differently.

Here's what sports psychology research has taught me: we're usually asking the wrong question. The question isn't "How do I motivate this player?" It's "What's preventing this player from accessing their own motivation?"

Understanding What's Really Going On

First, let's get clear on what motivation actually is. Sports psychologists define motivation as the direction of effort over a prolonged period of time—not just a single burst of energy, but sustained commitment toward a goal.

When we see a player who isn't giving consistent effort, we tend to think they don't care. But research tells a different story. Self-Determination Theory, one of the most researched frameworks in sports psychology developed by psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, proposes that humans have three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy (feeling in control), competence (feeling skilled), and relatedness (feeling connected to others). When any of these needs isn't met, motivation suffers.

Think about that player on your team who seems disengaged. Are they:

Being told exactly what to do with no input or choice? (Autonomy need not met)
Feeling like they can't do anything right? (Competence need not met)
Isolated from the team or feeling like they don't belong? (Relatedness need not met)

Suddenly "unmotivated" starts to look like something else entirely.

The Confidence Connection

Here's where many of us get it wrong, including me for years: we see a talented player not trying hard, and we think they're lazy or don't care. But often, what looks like lack of motivation is actually lack of confidence.

Research in youth athletics reveals that many common coaching practices can unintentionally undermine athletic self-belief. When players don't believe they can succeed, they protect themselves by not trying. It's safer to fail without effort than to give everything and still come up short.

I've seen this pattern countless times: the skilled player who avoids contact, the shooter who passes up open looks, the athlete who goes through the motions in practice. They're not unmotivated—they're protecting themselves from the pain of trying hard and failing anyway.

Studies show that when athletes feel competent and receive adequate feedback that recognizes effort and self-improvement, their perceived performance improves and they're more likely to remain physically active in the future. In other words, confidence isn't just a nice-to-have—it's the foundation that sustained effort is built on.

The Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation Trap

Here's another place where good intentions go wrong: we try to motivate players with external rewards, trophies, playing time promises, or even punishment for lack of effort.

Research shows that while extrinsic motivation driven by rewards, recognition, or social pressure tends to produce short-term gains, it lacks enduring influence. Intrinsic motivation—doing something because you genuinely enjoy it—is what creates sustained athletic success.

Even more concerning, studies have found that extrinsic motivation can potentially result in athletes losing interest in their sports altogether.

This doesn't mean we never use external motivators. But it means we need to be strategic and careful. The goal is always to help players discover their own internal reasons for competing and improving—whether that's the joy of the game, the satisfaction of improvement, or the bond with teammates.

Five Evidence-Based Strategies That Actually Work

Now let's talk about what sports psychologists and researchers say actually helps reach players who seem disengaged. These aren't just feel-good tips—they're backed by science.